The established order laid down a marker in the opening round of the A-League Men’s campaign, as Melbourne City and Victory registered first up wins and Sydney FC, despite their loss, showed more than enough to suggest their restructured attack could fire.

City helped veteran skipper Scott Jamieson celebrate his 300th league match with a 2-1 win over Western United, who had denied them back-to-back Championships in May’s Grand final. City looked the sharper side in attack and controlled the midfield through new signing Valon Berisha, while Tom Glover would have kept a deserved clean sheet if not for Western’s 92nd minute consolation goal.

‘The key for City in their win was the form of Tom Glover in goal, not just for City but for himself and Australian football. We saw what he could do with the Olyroos at the 2021 Olympics, but then he had a down season last campaign’, The ABC’s Daniel Garb told Box2Box.

‘When we consider that the keepers in the Socceroos are getting on a little bit, we do need someone to come through and be the heir apparent to Mat Ryan. Tom had been considered that for some time, but he needs a good start to this season and he did that on Friday.’

Opening round blockbusters can disappoint as teams fail to click into gear at the first time of asking, but the APL were repaid for their decision to schedule the Big Blue for Sydney FC’s first outing at the new Sydney Football Stadium.

Despite the heavy New South Wales rain which saw the F3 Derby postponed earlier in the day, each side had their periods of dominance and promise. While Josh Brillante’s winner ensured Victory took the points, Steve Corica would be heartened by the connection on show between attacking imports Joe Lolley and Robert Mak.

‘I like what Sydney are doing in attack. Mak and Lolley look like really good signings on the wings, and Patrick Yazbek (who teed up Mak’s opener) is someone who’ll be creative for them in midfield. Their issue will be in defence, with players in key positions either injury prone or ageing’, said Garb.

‘Luke Brattan is coming back off a knee on the wrong side of thirty, Alex Wilkinson keeps playing year on year but he’s gone off with a groin injury. There’s not that defensive synergy there has been in recent seasons, and they’ve got to get it sorted because they’ve got a coach under a little bit of pressure, which can become a factor.’

Long-time Victory fans will be circumspect in declaring new-signing Luis Nani a ‘success’ too early, given the Club’s failure to capitalise on previous huge-name signings in Harry Kewell and Keisuke Honda. But the former Manchester United man hasn’t put a foot wrong since he was signed in July, and his evident enthusiasm is just as exciting as the assist he laid on for Chris Ikonomidis in the second half.

‘Both he and Charlie Austin, the league’s too big marquees, have been fantastic off the field. Yeah, maybe Nani doesn’t dominate matches, but he will score goals and he laid on a lovely assist.

‘I love the way he celebrated, too. For a guy who’s won four Premier League titles, a Champions League, he was celebrating in the rooms like it was his debut. He’s taken it all in his stride, he’s a drawcard, and I think we’ll see some big crowds for the Victory early in the season.’